Valve spring compressor



l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. W. KULP VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR Dec.'5, 1950 H. w. KULP 2,533,121

VLVE SPRING COMPRESSOR Filed May 8, 1947 v2v Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1,950

UNI STATES .PATENT 'OFFICE YALVE vSPRING COMPLRESSQR Harry :Kul-p, '.Lancaster, Pa., 'assigner 'to Kl-D eManufa-ctnring Company, a corporation of ennsylvania ved actuating means connecting sa-id portions in 'an improved manner -to *impart relative longitudinal movement thereto.

A further objectisito provide animproved vconstruction of threaded actuating means and also to provide improved connecting means .between the threaded actuating means-and the respective arms.

Other more gener-al objects are i-toiprovidesuch a device which V'is adapted for economical mass production, while being I:of sturdy fconstruction,

efficient and Ireliable'in` operation.

In 'the -accompanyngdrawings whiehillustrate 'the preferred embodiment :of the invention:

Figure l represents a side .elevationn'f a valve spring :compressor l.embodying :the "invention,

.showing :the saws thereof fin fullyeXpanded :po-

fsition;

Figure -a plan view of *the Lcompressor 'in ithe position shown in Figure 1;

Figure i3, a ,sideaelevation .similar to Figure 1,

fwith -fthe fjaws -fin `closed for .contracted fpesition;

,Eigure '51., a fragmentary detailed axial across section olf the vhand Wheel and associated @parte `disclosing :the interior `,constructiogn ,and assembly vof the Thand'-.W-11e.el, actuating screw and hearing @Hanf-creeme.:

Figure 5, a cross section on the line 5 5 of lliguree 4, Alooking in .the direction Nof .the arrows;

.Figure .6, fa front .elevation .of .the .nut which .is

YTHHPlOSIed with .the actuating means .of .the lm- Mention;

'rigid longitudinally 'extending arms or "beams i which are linked together for relative movement as aforesaid.

The lower of these 'which yserves iin Vthe instant embodiment as asupporting arm or beam, comprises a vpair of relatively transversely spaced sheet metal stampings or plates E i, the forward ends 3 3 of which together denne a suitable work engaging jaw. Said ends 3 3 may be disposed for ktransverse adjustment towards or away from each other, as by means o'f the usual adjusting screw 5. Y

Rearwardly'this larm l-I terminates in a pair of relatively transversely spaced oppcsitely perforated bearing portions E l l`which preferably project upwardly to be in substantial longitudinal alignment with the upper or movable arm.

It will be noted that these portions 'I 'i' are in close `proximity to vthe rear end of the upper arms when the tool is 1in contracted position, as Ain Figure'B.

This upper arm also is preferably formed from a pair of relatively transversely spaced sheet metal stampings or plates A-the forward ends of which are shaped and cooperate to dene an upper jaw 4 l which lis opposed to the lower jaw '3 3 aforementioned for cooperation therewith. If desired the transversely opposed por- 'tions or furcations f3-l5 of Ythis upper jaw may be rendered relatively transversely adjustable VVby means of a usual adjusting screw i3.

These two arms or beams I i and 2 2 are Connected by'rigid link members, the opposite ends of which are 'ahingedly or pivotally connected thereto-in such manner as to dene a tetragon in which the various sides are pivotally connected so that 'longitudinal movement 'between the arms 'I l and `2 2 will serve to vary the distance between the jaws 3 3 and 'fl-4. The forward link s is preferablyof channeled shape having itsopposite ends received between the respective .plates I 'I and 2 2 oi said arms and pivotally connected thereto in suitable manner, as by the transverse adjusting screw aforementioned, and the vtransverse pin or rivet `8 Irespectively passing through the ends oi said link 9 and the opposed-plates I i vand 2 2. The

'links also serves as a spacer for the plates 2 2.

'plates I i and the inter-posed 'lower ends of both l-inkelements fil-It to provide fthe pivotal connection therefore, and a spacer sleeve I2 may be disposed on said pin II to maintain the link elements I and plates I I in spaced relation. Each of said link elements Ill has its upper end pivotally secured to its respective plate 2 by a pivot portion I4 preferably integral with the threaded actuating nut I4.

The construction and arrangement of the arms and their connecting links in the preferred embodiment of the invention thus far described is substantially the same as is disclosed in my prior Patent 2,064,264, except insofar as same have been modied to adapt them for use with the improved actuating means of my invention.

Cooperating relatively rotatable threaded actuating means or elements are pivotally connected to the respective rear ends of the arms I I and 2 2 to cause relative movement therebetween, with consequent expansion or contraction of the jaws 3 3 and 4 4 relative to each other.

One of these threaded elements comprises the nut i4, shown in detail in Figure 6, which is supported between the rear ends of the respective upper arm plates 2 2 for rotary movement about a transverse axis which is defined by integral pivots I3 extending from opposite sides of the nut Ill and received in bearing holes formed in the rear ends of arm members 2 2. in assembling the nut Ill and arm members 2 2 the outer ends of the pivots I3 are upset or riveted over as shown, after insertion through their respective bearing holes, to maintain the arm members or plates 2 2 against relative separation.

The pivot portions I4 for the link elements i!) respectively are disposed between the body of the nut Id and the respective pivots I3, being of somewhat larger diameter than the pivots i3 to have their outer ends abut against the members 2 2 and maintain same in soa-ced relation.

A cooperating actuating element in the form of a screw I5 is threaded through the socket of nut M, and is pivotallv connected to the rear end of the supporting arm I I by means of a thrust collar or bearing IB for rotary movement about the axis of its threads, and swinging movement about an axis transverse thereto, while being positively held against axial displacement by said collar I5.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated I have provided an improved, economically produced and readily assembled construction for the screw I5 and its associated bearing or thrust collar l5. To this end the screw I5 includes an axial rear extension or shank comprising a relatively large diameter portion 2i! adjacent the threaded portion, and a reduced diameter cylindrical portion 23 constituting the rear end portion of said shank. Formed in the shank portion '2Q are flattened areas extending forwardly from the rear end thereof. rlhese flattened areas 2l terminate forwardly in stop shoulders 2d. A washer 25 formed with an opening therethrough which corresponds in shape to the cross section of the large diameter portion 2E! is slipped onto the shank from the rear end thereof and moved axially into engagement with these stop shoulders 24. Thereafter the bearing or collar I6 is placed over the rear end of the shank and moved axially into engagement with the washer 25, the collar IS being freely rotatably journalled on the cylindrical surface of portion 20.

A suitable hand wheel 26 having a mounting sleeve 2'! integral therewith is then moved axially onto the shank of screw I5 and positioned thereon in such manner that the forwardly presented end 28 of this sleeve 21 is presented towards the collar i5 to coact with the washer 25 in preventing relative axial movement between the collar I6 and screw I5.

The sleeve 21 is provided internally with con-- nected axial bores 2Q and 23 corresponding in shape and dimensions to the respective shank portions '2E and 23 to snugly receive same so that the engagement between the corresponding attened areas 2i and 2i' will prevent relative rotation between the screw I5 and hand wheel 25.

t will be seen that engagement between the respective shoulders 22 and 22' at the junctures of the diierent diameter portions ci the shank and sleeve bore respectively will limit the axial movement of the sleeve 2l towards the collar It and thus prevent binding of said collar between said sleeve and the washer 25.

The collar i5 is provided with diametrically projecting trunnions Il I'i which are respectively journalled in bearing holes formed in the portions 'I l of the arm I I, to support the collar IE5 and screw I5 therebetween, the ends of these trunnions iI-I'l preferably being upset or riveted over to prevent separation between the end portions 1 of the arm I i.

With this arrangement the screw i5 is freely rotatable through the bearing or collar it and can swing about the axis of the pivots il! the arms I I and 2 2 are disposed in different positions, and at the same time the screw I5 is held against axial displacement by the collar It.

in the operation of the invention, which is believed to be apparent from the foregoing, the hand wheel 25 will be rotated to move the jaws of the device into relatively contracted position, as shown in Figure 3. n this position the jaws are inserted between the valve tappet and the valve spring retaining cup in a usual internal combustion engine, with the lower jaw 3 5 resting upon the tappet and the upper jaw 5 4 beneath the valve spring retaining cup. Thereafter, the hand wheel 2% is rotated to expand the jaws and thus raise and compress the valve spring to any desired degree. Even upon release of the hand wheel it will be apparent that the device will maintain the spring at desired stage of compression.

The invention is also adaptable ior use in the manner of a pair of pliers inasmuch as the hand wheel 2S and screw I5 may be rotated to cause relative contraction between the jaws 3 3 and 6 4.

It will be apparent that I have invented a screw actuated device which employs an actuating screw of minimum length and consequent minimum expense; and that the screw is assembled with the bearing or collar in an improved manner which facilitates rapid economical production, while resulting in a sturdy and extremely practical construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve spring compressor comprising rigid upper and lower longitudinally extending and relatively longitudinally movable arms respectively having relatively opposed jaws formed at their forward ends, a pair of relatively longitudinally spaced spreader links each extending between and pivotally connected to said respective arms to vary the distance therebetween responsive to longitudinal relative movement thereof, the rear end of said upper arm in its rearmost position terminating forwardly of the rear end of said lower arm, the rear end of said lower arm being formed with transversely spaced bearing portions offset to lie in substantial longitudinal alignment with said upper arm, a nut mounted on said upper arm for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivotal connection between said arm and the rearmost of said links, the threaded bore of said nut extending therethrough perpendicularly to its pivotal axis, an annular bearing collar having diametrically projecting trunnions journalled in said respective bearing portions of the lower arm, an actuating screw rotatably journalled in and held against axial movement through said collar, said screw being in threaded engagement with said nut, and a hand wheel carried by said screw to facilitate manual rotation thereof.

2. A valve spring compressor comprising a pair of rigid longitudinally extending arms terminating at their forward ends in relatively opposed jaws, links extending between and hinged to said respective arms to vary the distance between said jaws responsive to relative longitudinal movement of said arms, the rear ends of said arms respectively terminating in transversely spaced portions, an annular bearing pivotally mounted between said portions of one arm,an actuating screw rotatable through said bearing, means associated with said actuating screw defining an annular groove therearound to receive said bearing and prevent relative axial movement between said screw and said bearing, and a nut pivotally carried by said portions of said other arm in threaded engagement with said screw.

3. In a device of the character described, an actuating screw adapted to be rotatably disposed through a bearing collar, said screw having indented flat surfaces extending in an axially parallel direction from one end thereof and terminating in stop shoulders, in combination with means associated with said screw to define a bearing seating groove comprising a washer having an CII internal cross section similar to said screw disposed thereon in abutment with said stop shoulders, and a sleeve lxedlysecured on said screw in axially spaced relation to said washer, the interior of said sleeve conformingly non-rotatably receiving said screw.

4. A valve spring compressor comprising a pair of relatively longitudinally movable rigid arms, a pair of relative longitudinally spaced rigid spreader links each extending between and pivotally connected to said respective arms to vary the distance between said arms responsive to relative longitudinal movement thereof, a nut pivotally connected to one or" said arms for movement about an axis transverse to the common plane of said arms, a collar pivotally connected to the other of said arms for movement about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said nut, and an actuating screw rotatably journalled in and held against axial movement through said collar, said screw being in threaded engagement with said nut, whereby rotary movement of said screw will cause relative longitudinal movement of said arms.

HARRY W. KULP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy June 1, 1932 

